What Samaritans Ireland does

Samaritans Ireland is a registered charity providing free, confidential emotional support and crisis intervention services across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Established in Ireland in 1961, the organization operates a 24-hour, 365-day telephone helpline on the free-to-call number 116 123, supported by a physical network of 25 locations (24 branches within the Republic of Ireland, plus a recent site in Monaghan) and more than 2,000 trained volunteer listeners. Volunteers answer approximately 1,300-1,500 calls per day, with loneliness and isolation identified as key concerns among callers. The charity also runs support groups for people bereaved by suicide and tailored outreach programs for workplaces, schools, and health and care settings.

The service model is built on human-to-human interaction rather than technology: the core "product" is the trained volunteer listener, and no proprietary technology stack is disclosed. Service delivery is free to all callers, with no charges, pricing tiers, or contracts. Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic channels — individual donations, community events and fundraising campaigns (including Samaritans Awareness Day), corporate partnerships, charity shops operated by branches, and legacy gifts via wills. Samaritans Ireland is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee (CRO 450409) and registered as a charity in the Republic of Ireland (20033668), operating as part of a broader UK Samaritans network with related entities in England and Wales and Scotland. The paid staff headcount is 13, with service delivery overwhelmingly reliant on volunteer labor.

Name

Samaritans Ireland

Legal name

Samaritans Ireland

Website

https://samaritans.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Samaritans Ireland is a registered charity that provides free, confidential 24/7 emotional support and crisis intervention via its telephone helpline (116 123) and 25 branch locations across Ireland and Northern Ireland. The organization is served by 2,000+ trained volunteers answering approximately 1,300 calls daily, funded entirely through donations and philanthropic activities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL), Behavioral Health Crisis Services Management (988/Hotlines/Mobile Crisis Coordination) (HLAEAHAK)

Keywords

• Crisis support services
• Suicide prevention helpline
• Emotional support charity
• Bereavement support groups
• Volunteer mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Various locations across Ireland and Northern Ireland

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from supporters, including one-time and recurring contributions. The website features a donate now option with suggested donation amounts (e.g., £10 could help answer a life-saving call for help).
2. Events and Fundraising: Organized events and community fundraising activities including Samaritans Awareness Day, challenges, and supporter-created fundraising pages.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with companies offering various support mechanisms including financial contributions and employee engagement programs.
4. Legacy Gifts: Charity shops operated by some Samaritans branches sell pre-loved items to raise critical funds. Additionally, supporters can leave gifts in their wills to support the organization's work long-term.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Core offering

Samaritans Ireland provides a free, confidential, 24/7 emotional support service centered on its phone helpline (116 123) and 25 physical branch locations across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Calls are answered by more than 2,000 trained volunteers, with the organization handling approximately 1,300–1,500 calls for help each day. The offering is extended through specialized bereavement-by-suicide support groups and tailored programs for workplaces, schools, and health/care settings.

Product overview

Samaritans Ireland is a charitable organization offering a unified emotional support service centered around its 24/7 phone helpline (116 123) and 25 physical branch locations across Ireland and Northern Ireland. The organization operates with over 2,000 volunteers and answers approximately 1,300-1,500 calls daily. The portfolio includes the core phone helpline, a network of local branches for face-to-face support, specialized support groups for people bereaved by suicide, and targeted support services for workplaces, schools, and health/care settings. Fundraising activities include charity shops and events, supported by a volunteer program that forms the backbone of service delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Phone Helpline (116 123) Free, confidential emotional support phone line available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, connecting callers in Ireland and Northern Ireland with trained volunteer listeners for crisis support and a non-judgmental listening ear.
• Branch Network (25 locations) Local face-to-face emotional support provided through 25 physical branches across Ireland and Northern Ireland, with 24 branches in the Republic of Ireland, staffed by more than 2,000 volunteers.
• Support Groups for People Bereaved by Suicide Specialized peer-based support groups offering grief support for individuals who have lost someone to suicide.
• Workplace Support Program Mental health awareness, emotional support resources, and suicide prevention training tailored for workplace environments and employees.
• School Support Program Emotional support and mental health awareness resources, including suicide prevention training, designed for educational settings and staff.
• Health and Care Support Program Support services and training programs specifically designed for healthcare professionals and caregivers working with vulnerable populations.
• Samaritans Charity Shops Charity shops operated by some Samaritans branches selling pre-loved items to raise critical funds for the organization's services.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement program enabling individuals to serve as Samaritans listeners and provide emotional support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Answers approximately 1,300 calls per day from people in distress
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Corporate PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSamaritans Ireland maintains a corporate partnerships program where companies can support the organization's work through various engagement mechanisms including financial contributions and employee involvement. The website references corporate partnerships as one of many ways companies can support their mission.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Lifeline Australia: Australia's national 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention service. Closely comparable in operating model — trained volunteer listeners, 24/7 availability, free access — but serves a different geography.

Direct peers

• Jigsaw: Irish youth mental health charity providing early intervention and support for 12–25 year olds. Directly comparable free, community-based mental health service with shared audience overlap on the school segment.
• Pieta House: Ireland's leading suicide and self-harm support charity, operating a national freephone helpline and regional centres. Direct competitor for crisis intervention and bereavement services across the same Irish customer base.
• ISPCC Childline: Irish children's helpline providing 24-hour listening services for minors. Directly comparable volunteer-driven crisis line model serving an overlapping but distinct segment within Ireland.
• Samaritans (UK): Parent brand of the wider Samaritans network operating the same 116 123 helpline model in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Operationally and structurally aligned with Samaritans Ireland, sharing standards and brand.
• Console (Ireland): Ireland's specialist bereavement support service following loss by suicide, now part of Pieta. Overlaps directly with Samaritans Ireland's bereaved-by-suicide support groups and serves the same Irish bereavement segment.
• Aware: Irish national depression and bipolar disorder support charity operating a helpline, support groups, and education programmes. Comparable as a free, volunteer-supported mental health support organisation in Ireland.

Broad incumbents

• Mind: Major UK mental health charity providing information, support, and campaigning. Comparable as a large-scale mental health nonprofit brand, though broader in scope than Samaritans' narrow crisis-line focus.
• Crisis Text Line: US-based 24/7 text-based crisis support line. Operates the same listening-for-distress model as Samaritans but via SMS, illustrating the digital delivery direction in which traditional voice-only crisis lines may need to evolve.

Emerging players

• Shout (UK): UK-based 24/7 text messaging crisis support service. Comparable mission in crisis intervention but differentiated by a digital/text-first delivery model that appeals to demographics Samaritans traditionally under-serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/samaritans-ireland

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Samaritans Ireland